WHY DO STUDENTS USE NAVIGATE?
This simple tool allows you to stay connected, access what you need, and tracks your progress and
involvement at SXU so you only tell your story once. With Navigate you will be able to:
Schedule appointments
View your class schedule
Access SXU resources
Explore careers interests
Join study groups
Manage your to-do list
View holds
Talk to your support team
DOWNLOAD NAVIGATE
Download Navigate on the App Store or get it on Google
Play. Navigate is also accessible through a desktop
browser: https://sxu.navigate.eab.com/. Students will use
their SXU credentials to login. If you need assistance,
please reach out to [email protected].
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
To read more about Navigate, please visit sxu.edu and use the keyword, "Navigate." If you need
assistance, please reach out to [email protected].
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
TABLE OF CONTENTS
HANDSHAKE.................................................................................................................................
4-YEAR SUCCESS PLAN.................................................................................................................
CAREER & MAJOR EXPLORATION................................................................................................
RESUME GUIDELINES.....................................................................................................................
ACTION VERBS..............................................................................................................................
SAMPLE RESUMES...................................................................................................................
WRITING A COVER LETTER............................................................................................................
SAMPLE COVER LETTERS.......................................................................................................
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................
JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES............................................................................................................
MICRO-INTERNSHIPS..................................................................................................................
NETWORKING 101......................................................................................................................
MASTERING AN INTERVIEW.........................................................................................................
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS..........................................................................................................
THANK YOU LETTER SAMPLE......................................................................................................
GRADUATE SCHOOL PREPARATION..............................................................................................
PERSONAL STATEMENT..............................................................................................................
2
3
4-5
6
7
8-17
18
19-20
21
22
23
24
25
26-27
28
29
30
1
Find jobs and network with employers
Connect with students and alumni across the United States
Ask industry professionals questions and receive advice
Learn about careers and industries
Access academic and career resources
Message your advisor
Schedule appointments with staff in the Center for SUCCESS
WHY HANDSHAKE?
Handshake is the official career management system of Saint Xavier
University. Whether you are a first-year student, graduating senior,
or alumni, you can use Handshake for your academic and career
development needs:
APPOINTMENTS
Schedule an appointment with your Academic and Career Resource
Advisor by logging into Handshake with your SXU credentials and
clicking on Career Center. Choose the date and times that work
best for you!
400K+ companies
100% of Fortune 500 Companies
25K student searches a month
14M students and alumni
3.5M jobs and internships
60K+ part-time postings
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
FAST FACTS
2
4-YEAR SUCCESS PLAN
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
3
Notes:
Download and log into Navigate and explore resources
Meet with your academic advisor
Learn Student Planning to register for classes
Explore potential majors using virtual career resources
Develop effective study habits and time management skills
Learn about resources and services available on campus
Determine your skills, interests, and values
Attend the Synergy Leadership Summit (each year)
Meet with a member of the Center for Learning and
Student Support
Get involved on campus and in student organizations
Attend the College-to-Career Expo for part-time jobs
Join the Cougars LEAD Certificate program
Log into Handshake and complete your profile
Declare a major if undecided
Develop a resume and have it reviewed
Connect interests, strengths, and skills with academic and
career aspirations
Identify academic need within your major and schedule a
tutoring appointment
Apply for internships and micro-internships or volunteer
Attend career development events and workshops
Discover leadership opportunities on campus
Make connections with faculty in your major
Practice your elevator pitch at the College-to-Career Expo
Create a LinkedIn profile and build your network
Explore how your interests, strengths, and skills apply to
career options
Research multiple career and or graduate school
opportunities
Network with at least three individuals in your field of
interest
Consider working for the Center for Learning and Student
Support as a tutor within your major
Articulate your area of study and why
Update your resume with new experiences
Schedule a mock interview appointment for practice
Attend the College-to-Career Expo and career workshops
Check in with faculty to discuss career opportunities
Clean up social media profiles and online presence
First Year: Explore Interests
Second Year: Choose a Path
Third Year: Enhance Professional Skills
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to
wrap up any plans before graduation
Start your job search early (at least two semesters before
graduating)
Update your resume and write cover letters
Attend various job fairs and networking nights
See a writing consultant to assist with graduate school
statements, capstone projects, and/or senior seminar
papers
Use Handshake to apply for full-time positions
Explore virtual career resources for job searching
Finalize graduate school applications
Research companies of interest on Glassdoor
Update your Handshake and LinkedIn profiles
Finish the Cougars LEAD Certificate program
Use your summers to pursue internships, micro-
internships, volunteer opportunities, or pre-professional
experiences related to your field of interest to expand
your skill base.
Fourth Year: Prepare for Next Steps
Summers
What do you love?
What does the world need?
What are you good at?
What can you get paid for?
SELF-AWARENESS
When narrowing down major and career options, consider the skills
that you already have or know that you can acquire as well as your
interests and values. Use these as a checklist to narrow down your
options when debating whether or not various majors, jobs or career
paths are for you. Use the following diagram to determine whether or
not a major or career is a good fit based on your current skillset or
abilities, your interests, and your personal and/or professional values:
In addition to these considerations, the Japanese concept of Ikigai,
which means "a reason for being," can help you identify your purpose
through four questions:
Use the worksheet on the following page to map out your "reason for
being." Feel free to schedule an appointment with an Academic and
Career Resource Advisor to review your Ikigai and connect it to
possible majors and career paths.
Interests
Abilities
Values
Goals
Personality type
Job and employer information for each major
State and national labor statistics
Career planning tool kits
Occupational outlook and salary information
FOCUS 2 is an online interactive career and
education planning system that uses a series of self-
assessment, career exploration and decision-making
tools to help you discover what majors and career
paths may be right for you.
Find majors and careers that fit your:
For more information and to access Focus 2, please
visit the Center for SUCCESS website.
RESOURCES
Visit the Center for SUCCESS website to explore
various resources for major and career exploration
which include:
For information about resources, visit sxu.edu
keywords: Career and Major Exploration.
Career & Major Exploration
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
SKILLS INTERESTS
MAJOR OR
CAREER
FIT
4
VALUES
IKIGAI
Career & Major Exploration
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
WHAT DO YOU
LOVE?
WHAT DOES THE
WORLD NEED?
WHAT ARE YOU
GOOD AT?
WHAT CAN YOU GET
PAID FOR?
5
List 4-8 advanced courses in column format to save space
Include 3-5 bullets describing your responsibilities
Start bullets with action verbs, e.g. maintain, assist, coordinate
Job Title, Company, City, State, Month Year - Month Year
Name of award, organization received from, month year - month year
Title, Organization Name, Affiliation, Month Year - Month Year
Follow formatting guidelines for General Work Experience
Name of certification or license, organization, date received or expiration
Computer, lab and special equipment skills
Foreign language (include fluency)
Leadership skills
International experience or travel
Conferences, presentations or relevant projects
Honors or awards if not creating a full category
Military experience
NAME
City, State
Phone Number
Email Address
LinkedIn or Digital Portfolio URL
EDUCATION
Name of School, City, State
Title of Degree, Expected Graduation Date
Include Major, Minor, and or Concentration
GPA: X.X/4.0 (if above a 3.0)
RELEVANT COURSEWORK (OPTIONAL)
GENERAL WORK EXPERIENCE or RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Job Title, Company, City, State Month Year - Month Year
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE and/or VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
AWARDS, HONORS, and/or ACHIEVEMENTS
MEMBERSHIPS
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
CERTIFICATIONS or LICENSES
SKILLS or ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RESUME Guidelines
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
To prevent bias and ensure safety, do
not include a street address or ZIP
code in your contact information.
Use the appropriate verb tense. If a
position is in the past use the past-
tense, e.g. "maintained, assisted,
coordinated."
RESUME CHECKLIST:
☐ Traditional font (10-12 pt)
☐ Consistent format and spacing
☐ Margins are 0.5-1 inch around
☐ No objective statement
☐ Includes dates for all experiences
☐ Does not exceed 1-2 pages
☐ Does not include references
☐ No personal pronouns (I, Me, My)
☐ Did not use a template
☐ Verb tense matches dates
☐ Reverse-chronological order
☐ Free of typos and errors
☐ Reviewed by an advisor
All experiences should be in reverse-
chronological order, meaning most
recent to least recent.
6
Disclosed
Discovered
Displayed
Distinguished
Distributed
Diversified
Documented
Doubled
Drafted
Earned
Edited
Elected
Eliminated
Enabled
Enforced
Engaged
Engineered
Enriched
Established
Estimated
Evaluated
Examined
Exchanged
Executed
Expanded
Expedited
Explained
Extended
Extracted
Facilitated
Familiarized
Focused
Formalized
Formed
Formulated
Found
Founded
Framed
Fulfilled
Gained
Gathered
Generated
Granted
Grouped
Guided
Handled
Hired
Accelerated
Accompanied
Accomplished
Achieved
Acquired
Acted
Activated
Adapted
Added
Addressed
Adhered
Adjusted
Administered
Admitted
Adopted
Advanced
Advertised
Advised
Aided
Allocated
Altered
Amplified
Analyzed
Anticipated
Appointed
Appraised
Approached
Arranged
Asked
Assembled
Assumed
Assessed
Assisted
Attained
Attracted
Audited
Authored
Authorized
Automated
Balanced
Bargained
Borrowed
Bought
Budgeted
Built
Calculated
Captured
action verbs
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
Centralized
Challenged
Chaired
Circulated
Clarified
Classified
Cleared
Closed
Collaborated
Collected
Combined
Committed
Compared
Compiled
Completed
Composed
Computed
Concluded
Condensed
Conducted
Conferred
Consolidated
Constructed
Consulted
Contracted
Contributed
Controlled
Converted
Convinced
Coordinated
Corrected
Counseled
Counted
Created
Critiqued
Decided
Decreased
Defined
Delegated
Delivered
Demonstrated
Described
Designed
Determined
Developed
Devised
Directed
Hosted
Identified
Illustrated
Implemented
Improved
Improvised
Increased
Influenced
Informed
Initiated
Innovated
Inquired
Inspected
Inspired
Installed
Instilled
Instituted
Instructed
Insured
Interfaced
Interpreted
Interviewed
Introduced
Invented
Invested
Investigated
Invited
Issued
Joined
Launched
Lectured
Led
Located
Maintained
Managed
Marketed
Maximized
Measured
Merchandised
Merged
Minimized
Modeled
Modified
Monitored
Motivated
Moved
Multiplied
Narrated
Negotiated
Observed
Obtained
Offered
Offset
Opened
Operated
Ordered
Organized
Overhauled
Oversaw
Participated
Passed
Performed
Permitted
Persuaded
Planned
Prepared
Presented
Preserved
Prevented
Prioritized
Processed
Produced
Profiled
Programmed
Promoted
Prompted
Proposed
Proved
Provided
Publicized
Published
Purchased
Pursued
Quoted
Raised
Ranked
Rated
Sold
Reacted
Received
Reconciled
Recorded
Recovered
Recruited
Reduced
Referred
Refined
Regained
Regulated
Rehabilitated
Reinforced
Rejected
Remodeled
Reorganized
Replaced
Repaired
Reported
Represented
Requested
Researched
Resolved
Responded
Restored
Restructured
Retrieved
Revamped
Revealed
Reviewed
Revised
Rewarded
Scheduled
Secured
Selected
Separated
Served
Settled
Signed
Solved
Specified
Speculated
Spread
Stabilized
Staffed
Standardized
Strengthened
Stressed
Structured
Submitted
Suggested
Summarized
Supervised
Supplied
Supported
Surpassed
Surveyed
Targeted
Taught
Tested
Traded
Trained
Transferred
Transformed
Translated
Transported
Treated
Uncovered
Unified
United
Updated
Upgraded
Used
Utilized
Validated
Verified
Visited
Viewed
Weighed
Welcomed
Worked
Yielded
7
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
8
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
9
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
10
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
11
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
12
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
13
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
14
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
15
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
16
SAMPLE RESUME
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
17
Date
Name of Contact Person
His/Her Title
Organization Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Dear [Insert Name of Person],
OPENING PARAGRAPH
Explain why you are writing; identify the position and your source of information.
Indicate in summary form your strongest qualifications for the position using a
series of phrases.
BODY PARAGRAPHS (2)
Outline your strongest qualifications in more detail and show how they match the
position requirements. As much as possible, provide evidence of your related
work, extracurricular, and academic experiences and accomplishments. Refer to
your enclosed resume.
Convince the employer that you have the personal qualities and motivation to
succeed. Relate your interests and qualities to your knowledge of the company.
CLOSING PARAGRAPH
Reiterate your interest and an opportunity to discuss your qualifications further in
an interview. Indicate how you can be contacted including phone number and
email address and thank the reader for his/her consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Writing a Cover Letter
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
Use the same header as your resume.
Avoid cliche phrases such as, "to
whom it may concern." Instead use,
"dear hiring manager/committee."
COVER LETTER
CHECKLIST:
☐ Traditional font (10-12 pt)
☐ Consistent format and spacing
☐ Include dates for all experiences
☐ Does not exceed 1 page
☐ Highlights 2-3 qualifications
☐ Do not overuse the pronoun "I"
☐ Customized for the job/employer
☐ Free of typos and errors
☐ Reviewed by an advisor
NAME
City, State
Phone Number
Email Address
LinkedIn or Digital Portfolio URL
18
Sample cover letter
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
19
sample cover letter
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
20
NAME
City, State
Phone Number
Email Address
LinkedIn or Digital Portfolio URL
REFERENCES
Name
Job Title
Company Name
City, State
Email
Phone Number
Name
Job Title
Company Name
City, State
Email
Phone Number
Name
Job Title
Company Name
City, State
Email
Phone Number
Name
Job Title
Company Name
City, State
Email
Phone Number
Name
Job Title
Company Name
City, State
Email
Phone Number
REFERENCES
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
Use the same header as your resume.
Include 3-5 professional references;
do not include family or friends. Let
your references know that you are
listing them as a career reference.
21
PART-TIME JOBS
Finding part-time work while in school can help you
pay for the cost of school as well as allow you to
develop skills necessary for employment after
graduation. Here are some tips to get started with a
part-time job search:
Consider the skills you will need to develop
Determine the number of hours you can work
Identify your transportation needs
Explore popular part-time job search websites
Check the bulletin boards around campus
indeed.com
careerbuilder.com
internjobs.com
internships.com
internshipprograms.com
volunteermatch.org
care.com
linkedin.com
glassdoor.com
Federal Work Study eligible students may find on-
campus positions through the Federal Work Study
Program. For more information about this program,
visit sxu.edu, keywords: Student Employment.
RESOURCES
Remember to use Handshake to search for part-
time and full-time jobs, internships and volunteer
opportunities: sxu.joinhandshake.com.
Develop relevant skills through jobs and internships
Prepare your resume and cover letter
Identify areas of interest and use available career resources
Create a LinkedIn profile and build your network
Perfect your elevator speech and practice it at events
Attend networking events and the College-to-Career Expo
Develop a plan and research the companies ahead of time
Bring copies of your resume with you to hand out
Dress and act professionally
Use a prepared elevator speech to introduce yourself
Be mindful of body language, e.g. eye contact, hand shake, etc.
Collect business cards and connect with employers after
PREPARATION
Before you conduct a job search, you will need to make sure you are
prepared; this preparation can begin as early as your first year of
college:
For preparation suggestions by year, please review the Four-Year
SUCCESS Plan.
WAYS TO SEARCH
There are a variety of ways to search for positions, including general
and major-specific job search websites, attending professional events
(networking nights and job fairs), joining professional organizations,
and networking both in person and online.
For internship and job search resources, including resources by
major, please visit sxu.edu, keywords: Internship and Job Search.
NAVIGATING JOB FAIRS
Navigating a job fair for the first time can be intimidating, but following
these tips will help you make sure you do it right:
Think outside of the box when talking to employers at job fairs. Many
employers hire for all majors, and you never know when an employer
might have an opportunity for you!
Job search strategies
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
22
WHAT IS IT?
Micro-internships are short-term, paid, professional
assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or
interns. These projects enable students to demonstrate skills,
explore career paths and build their networks as they seek
the right full-time role.
Unlike traditional internships, micro-internships can take place
year-round, typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work, and
are due between one week and one month after kick-off.
Micro-Internships are used by companies ranging from those
in the Fortune 100 to emerging start-ups, and go across
departments, including sales, marketing, technology, HR and
finance.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Saint Xavier University partnered with Parker Dewey to
provide micro-internship opportunities to students. To create
an account and apply for micro-internships, visit the SXU
Parker Dewey landing page:
micro-internships
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
1) employers post
positions on the
parker dewey website
2) students
apply for micro-
internships
3) employers
choose a
candidate that
fits their needs
4) students demonstrate
their skills and gain
experience
HTTP://INFO.PARKERDEWEY.COM/SXU
23
WHY NETWORKING?
It is estimated that more than half of positions are found through
networking and who you know. Networking is the process of building
mutually beneficial relationships with individuals over time to explore
potential majors, careers, positions and organizations as well as gain a
list of industry contacts and helpful resources.
You can network with anyone from family, friends and professors to
industry professionals just about anywhere, e.g. wedding, grocery store,
a job fair, conference or even online.
HOW TO NETWORK
Whether you are looking for a new job or wanting to learn more about
an industry, you will need to prepare a game plan and know how to
introduce yourself. You can do this through an elevator speech.
An elevator speech is a brief 30-second introduction of yourself that
identifies who you are as a professional and what you can offer an
employer. Prepare an outline and cast your NETS (Name, Education,
Target Job, and Skills):
N:
E:
T:
S:
Remember to maintain eye contact, sound natural, and remain engaging
when delivering your elevator speech. It will be awkward at first, but
with practice, you will get better!
If you are looking to learn more about an industry, you can use your
elevator speech to introduce yourself to potential contacts and conduct
an informational interview. An informational interview is an informal
conversation where you ask questions with the intent of learning more
about a person's field or position. Informational interviews can take
place in person, over the phone, through email or through social media.
What was your major in college?
What was your first job after college?
What tasks did it entail?
How did you get your first job in your field?
What kinds of tasks do you perform?
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
What are the key experiences or skills needed?
What college courses would best help me
prepare for a career in this field?
There are a variety of questions that you can ask
someone during an informational interview
including:
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media has expanded how we network and
how frequently we engage with others. We have the
capability to engage with various audiences and
connect with professionals globally. When used
correctly and professionally, any social media
platform can help expand your network! The most
commonly used platform for networking is LinkedIn,
which can help you find jobs, make industry
contacts and learn about companies:
KEEP IN MIND
Always present yourself professionally, especially on
social media, and continue to network even when
not job searching. You never know who might be
your next boss or when your next job might present
itself. It is always a great idea to connect with
people you meet on LinkedIn and follow-up with
contacts frequently.
networking 101
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
24
Know yourself including skills and experience
Research the employer and position
Prepare your outfit before the interview
Print copies of your resume and references to bring
Practice common interviewing questions ahead of time
Prepare questions for the interviewer
Dress and act professionally
Be assertive and confident, but let the employer lead the interview
Make eye contact and smile throughout the interview
Be mindful of body language, e.g. posture and firm hand shake
Make a great first impression and arrive 10-15 minutes early
Try to remember names and ask for business cards when possible
Do not be the first to ask questions about salary or benefits
Ask 3-5 questions to demonstrate genuine interest in the position
Thank the interviewers and shake hands with each person
Ask for next steps in the interview process
Send a thank you letter to each interviewer within 48 hours
Follow up with additional materials requested by the interviewer
THE PROCESS
Interviewing can be a stressful process and preparation and following
a few suggestions can alleviate jitters!
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
DURING THE INTERVIEW
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
THANK YOU LETTERS
1st Paragraph: Thank the interviewer for the opportunity and their
time.
2nd Paragraph: Sell yourself again and remind the interviewer why
you are qualified for the position. Introduce any information you may
have forgotten to discuss in the interview.
3rd Paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the position and let the
interviewer know you look forward to hearing from them in the future.
Clothes (and shoes) should be clean,
tailored and wrinkle-free
makeup, jewelry and fragrance
should be moderate
MASTERING AN INTERVIEW
BUSINESS
PROFESSIONAL
Matching suit or
skirt
Solid, dark, or
neutral colors
Wear light colors
underneath
Closed-toe heel or
dress shoes
Belts should match
shoes and attire
Pants, slacks,
dresses or skirts
No jeans, shorts,
sundresses, flip-flops
or athletic wear
Skirts should be
knee-length when
standing
WHAT TO WEAR
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
BUSINESS CASUAL
wear business
professional to an
interview if in doubt
daily work
attire
hair and nails should be well-
groomed
piercings and tattoos aligned to
company standards
OTHER TIPS
25
COMMON QUESTIONS
An interview is much like a paper you write for class. There is an
introduction, content supported by evidence and a conclusion. Knowing
how to approach some of the commonly asked questions will make an
interview easier:
Tell me about yourself:
Much like the introduction of a paper, this 1-2 minute response outlines
what you will talk about in more detail throughout the interview. This is a
snapshot of your education, work experience and extracurricular
involvement.
What are your strengths?
List 2-3 strengths and use examples from your past experiences to back
up the claims you make.
What are your weaknesses?
Admit a minor weakness and explain how you are working to eliminate
the weakness or turn it into a strength.
What do you know about our company?
Employers ask this question to determine how much research you have
done about a company or position before an interview. Look up
information about the company before the interview. This will show
genuine interest.
What are your salary expectations?
This is not a salary negotiation, rather, the employer is using this
question to determine whether or not you have realistic expectations.
Use websites like LinkedIn or Glassdoor to find the average salary for a
position based on the city and state and give a range around the
average.
What are your short-term and long-term goals?
Employers use this question to evaluate how realistic your goals are and
how a position within their company might help you accomplish these
goals.
Why should we hire you?
This question is like the concluding paragraph of a paper. It is your last
chance to pull everything together and make a final pitch of your
qualifications as it relates directly to the job description.
interview questions
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
Salary expectation example: based on my
research I found that the average salary
for this position in chicago is $50k. I expect
to make anywhere from $45k-$55k.
when asked to relay a negative situation,
put a positive spin on it or talk about how
you turned something into a strength!
26
TEAMWORK
PROBLEM-SOLVING
COMMUNICATION
CREATIVITY
FLEXIBILITY
ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
BEHAVIORAL-BASED
QUESTIONS
Employers use behavioral-based questions to gauge how you
responded to something in the past because it is a good indication
of how you might respond to something in the future. These
questions typically start with phrases such as, “tell me about a time"
or "give me an example of a time when something happened."
The employer is looking for you to be specific and walk them through
the situation and how you handled it. To answer these questions, use
the acronym SOAR:
First, outline the situation, e.g. was it at work? in the classroom?
while part of a student organization? Next, talk about the obstacle or
task you faced in detail and explain why it was an obstacle for you or
others around you. After the obstacle, describe the specific actions
you took to overcome the obstacle.
Finally, what was the end result? Since this question is results-
oriented, you will want to place a lot of emphasis on the Action and
Results portion of the acronym in your narrative.
Behavioral-based questions typically come from the following
categories:
Give an example of an occasion when you
used logic to solve a problem.
Give an example of a goal you reached and tell
me how you achieved it.
Have you gone above and beyond the call of
duty? If so, how?
Have you had to convince a team to work on a
project they weren't thrilled about? How did
you do it?
Tell me about a time when you worked with a
difficult person.
Tell me about a time when you worked
effectively under pressure.
SAMPLE
QUESTIONS
OTHER TIPS
If you are asked a behavioral-based question and
you do not have an example, do not make one up!
Instead, run through the SOAR method
hypothetically. Employers can easily tell when
candidates are lying are not presenting factual
information.
Before your next interview, write down the
acronym SOAR on your notepad and bring it with
you. This will help you stay on track when asking
these type of questions.
interview questions
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
S O
A
R
SITUATION OBSTACLE ACTION RESULT
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thank you letter sample
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
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do your research
prepare for your admissions test
apply early
gather recommendation letters
consider finance options
write your personal statement
www.gradschools.com
www.graduateguide.com
www.princetonreview.com
www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools
www.ets.org
www.kaplan.com
www.testprepreview.com
www.mba.com (GMAT)
www.ets.org/gre (GRE),
www.lsac.org (LSAT)
www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat (MCAT)
GRADUATE
RESOURCES
TEST PREP
SXU RESOURCES
For more information about Graduate School
Preparation, visit sxu.edu, keywords: Graduate
School.
PLANNING
Attending graduate school can help you reach your career
goals, including placing you a step above the competition in the
job market. Meet with an Academic and Career Resource
Advisor to develop an appropriate timeline for the programs you
are interested in. If graduate school is right for you, here are
some tips to help you prepare:
graduate school preparation
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
determine your graduate program needs and contact graduate
programs you are interested in. ask advising & career services
and professors for graduate school recommendations.
many graduate schools require an admissions test such as the
gre, graduate record exam, lsat, gmat or mcat. take practice
tests online.
file for fafsa and explore grants, loans and scholarships.
assistantships and research fellowships may include tuition
waivers and stipends.
writing a personal statement can set you apart from other
candidates applying for the program. read through the
personal summary resource for more information on writing
this document.
Apply for graduate schools early to increase your odds.
Starting early gives you the chance to prep and polish your
application.
reach out to professional and personal contacts to request
recommendation letters to submit with your application. give
recommenders ample time to write these letters.
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Education
Relevant experience
Honors or awards
Reason for selecting major
Reason for selecting school
Knowledge about the program
Personal story
Professional goals
Relevant projects
Reasons for bad grades or poor test scores (if applicable)
Reasons you know you will be successful in the program
Research interests
WHAT IS IT?
Graduate and professional schools often ask for a written
statement as part of the application process. Some programs
will provide you with a prompt or ask you to answer specific
questions. The overall purpose of the statement is to convince
the admissions committee that you are the right choice!
The best way to approach your personal statement for graduate
school is to imagine that you have five minutes with someone
from the admissions committee. How would you go about
making the best case for yourself while holding the listener's
interest? What would you include and omit in your story?
Figuring out the answer to these questions is critical to
successfully preparing an effective statement.
WHAT TO INCLUDE:
Some programs will give you a prompt to follow. Make sure
you follow this to answer all of their questions first. If you are not
given a prompt or want to add more to your statement,
consider talking about the following:
Follow application instructions first
Address all questions in the prompt (if any)
Customize for each school you submit
Traditional font (12 pt) unless otherwise noted
Free of typos and grammatical errors
500-1000 words unless otherwise noted
OTHER TIPS:
RESOURCES
If you need assistance with getting started on your
personal statement, schedule an appointment with an
Academic and Career Resource Advisor through
Handshake.
You can also schedule an appointment with the SXU
Writing Studio to receive feedback on your personal
statement.
personal statement
helping you navigate your academic and career success through college and beyond
for more graduate
school preparation, visit
sxu.edu keywords:
graduate school
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10/2020
